New Mexico teens may lose driver's license for truancy issues

A New Mexico law maker is looking to a new approach to keep kids in school, involving their licenses.

Teens who frequently play hooky in New Mexico may have their driver's license taken away if one state senator has his way.

Senator Craig Brandt has proposed school authorities have the right to work with the Department of Motor Vehicles to deny or suspend licenses of students who have a pattern is skipping school, poor grades or are at risk of dropping out.

Parents currently have the burden to ensure kids don't skip school under current state law. And backlogged courts are often issuing fines of up to $500 for repeat truancy offenders.

Brandt has said the current law puts pressure on the courts to do something about this issue, and the possibility of losing their license would send a strong message to teens.